MARA Holdings has established the MARA Foundation, a new initiative dedicated to enhancing Bitcoin's long-term security, sovereignty, and accessibility. The foundation will support protocol research, open-source development, self-custody infrastructure, policy advocacy, and global education.
Unveiled at the Bitcoin 2026 conference in Las Vegas, the foundation begins with a $100,000 contribution. This fund will be awarded to one of three selected organizations, determined by a community vote. Voting is open online and at the Bitcoin 2026 conference until April 29.
The candidates include SateNet, focused on Bitcoin-powered wireless internet in the global South; the 256 Foundation, supporting open-source Bitcoin mining hardware and software developers; and Libreria de Satoshi, aiming to expand Bitcoin technical education across languages and regions.
MARA CEO Fred Thiel stated the foundation extends the company's role in Bitcoin mining and network security, emphasizing an investment in the protocol's long-term health beyond short-term economics.